Sober Reflection On resolutions, criticism and hypocrisy..!

By: Mike Rudon Jr.

I start this year’s first bit of literary rambling by welcoming back our faithful readers – those who read in support, those who read for information, those who read for entertainment and even those who read just to get some ammunition to criticize us for the fulfillment of some personal or political agenda or the other. WELCOME ALL. It’s been a difficult year for most of us, for most of you. For me, personally, it’s been an especially trying time. In fact, toward the end of the year I wasn’t even sure I’d still be a bit player in this messy, nasty, convoluted and very dangerous time in which we political animals bob and weave. Even now I’m not exactly sure if me still being on the periphery of the political game in some small part is a good or bad thing, but that’s another story for another time.

The New Year is a time of resolutions, so allow me to share mine. Apart from the usual no drinking (actually I’m doing pretty good with that one) and healthy eating and exercise (not so good with this one), I’ve decided that I’m not going to take any more crap from anyone. There are very few important things in life – family, real friends, pride, self-respect and happiness/contentment the most important to my way of thinking. There are a lot of people out there who get kicks out of bringing others down. My resolution and my two cents worth of advice to any who are interested – focus on what’s important and kick all the little things and little people to the curb. That’s it. Hell, I know this isn’t exactly political warmongering, but it’s my column so give me a break and allow me my few seconds of sentiment.

Now with that said, let me just say this. We ended off 2009 with a bit of criticism coming from Harry Lawrence in the guise of an editorial in the Reporter Newspaper. He objected to the use of what he called expletives in one issue of the Belize Times. In his own peculiar old world style, Harry ‘lambasted’ yours truly while attempting in equal parts to lecture and impart bits of wisdom, a sort of Journalism 101, so to speak. Word is that we also started off the year with some criticism in the Amandala Newspaper from Colin bs. I’m not so sure about that one because I haven’t seen it. Fact is I’m writing this on the weekend before I go back to work, so I haven’t had a chance to look at any newspapers for the past week. A couple people have said that Colin bs had some choice words about the paper and yours truly, though. Ok, no worries.

About Harry’s criticism I will say only that I don’t take it personally because I don’t think he meant it personally. I think Harry is just old school and a little prudish in his ways of thinking…nothing wrong with that, really. About Harry trying to lecture on what is really good journalism I am forced to say this, however. I have nothing but praise for the new Reporter Newspaper which is gaining much credibility after fresher heads took over the helm. Hell, nothing personal old chum, but people still laugh about a story in the ‘old’ Reporter Newspaper about some member of British Royalty visiting Belize and giving an address. The thing is, although the story in the Reporter detailed the royal comments at some dinner or the other, at the last minute the trip had been cancelled. The punch line of the story is that when Harry was questioned about the story, his nonchalant answer was that that was what the Royal would have said if he had visited! So please, my friend, no lessons in journalism!

About the comments from Colin bs…well, like I said, I haven’t seen them. I do know that the Kremandala group isn’t too happy with some of us for too freely venting what we feel about the tin fence, but that’s all well and good. I expect a lot more of the same from them in the weeks ahead. Damn, I just have a problem with people who run their mouths with reckless abandon but shriek and moan like plundered virgins when comments are aimed their way.

Everybody wants to go to heaven but you don’t see anybody in a hurry to die. That’s been my single favourite sentence since some irreverent classmate whispered it to me in some mass or the other back at SJC. See, the Belize Times is owned by the People’s United Party. This is a political paper. We make no apologies. We have no hidden agendas. Our job is to inform the nation about the crap that the UDP is doing, and that’s just what we do. There are a lot of people out there in the so-called mainstream media who claim objectivity and impartiality and profess sterling journalistic integrity and undying commitment to Belizeans even while their back pockets are bulging with an assortment of hidden agendas, cash or perks. You won’t get that here.

And you know what else you won’t find in the Belize Times? You won’t find any of the hypocrisy which is so pervasive in the ‘mainstream’ media today. We’ll tell it like it is, like it or not. And if you don’t like it, the name’s right at the top, so you’ll know who to contact. No bulls@#t, no games. New Year…new rules!

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